Brief Course Description: Intermediary
Metabolism is a graduate and upper-level undergraduate course taught in
the fall every other year by Professor Hal White. A fundamental general
background in biochemistry at the level of CHEM-641/642 (or CHEM-527) is
assumed.

Courses in intermediary metabolism share with organic
chemistry the reputation for presenting enormous amounts of tedious information
that has to be regurgitated on impossible examinations. This course is
not about memorization of structures and obscure pathways. You will
have a lifetime to do that, if you want. This course is about understanding,
thinking, pursuing knowledge, identifying resources, and communicating.
It is about making metabolism understandable, hopefully interesting,
and possibly exciting enough that you will want to continue learning about
it for the rest of your life. In order to emphasize those objectives, Intermediary
Metabolism is taught using a Problem-Based
Learning format in which groups of students work cooperatively on complex
problems (case studies) during class time and turn in individual assignments
after each. In addition, there is term paper (or case study) assignment
and oral presentation on the same topic. Personal initiative in the form
of outside reading and class participation is expected. There are no formal
examinations. Please examine the course-related documents linked below: